San Diego...

For a week, we spent time with our little girl in San Diego. It was absolutely wonderful to relax and enjoy the nice weather and each other. For most of the summer, we have been busy with real estate (Matt) and grad school (me), so it was nice to not think about any of it and just "play" the whole time!

I had been nervous about how Madelynn would do on the airplane and staying in a strange place. All I can say is that she totally surprised...she did AWESOME!! Matt and I kept looking at each other and saying "Really, is our daughter really this good?" And, yes, she is... She was not even phased by the airplane taking off or landing. She just sat on our laps, reading books, watching movies, eating snacks, drinking juice, and talking to the very nice people around us! Matt and I agreed that we would let her have anything just to stay sitting nice and quiet! Here are some photos from the airplane ride...

Madelynn looking at the airplanes at the Columbus Airport. Her new favorite thing is to point at all the airplanes that she hears go by...She really has an ear for it!

Our 2nd flight from Houston to San Diego...SO pretty!

The Martin family on MJ's 1st flight!

She even fell asleep on the 2nd flight from Houston to San Diego, which is not like her. I was really surprised how well she did after such a long day. She was up at 6:00 am and didn't go to sleep until 10:00 pm (but really 7:00 pm in San Diego), with only an hour nap on the plane. We arrived in San Diego on Thursday afternoon...Weather: 72 and sunny :)

MJ so happy that we are finally in San Diego...On our drive to the hotel.

Mommy and Daddy are just as happy!

La Jolla Shores Hotel.

We woke up on Friday morning with Madelynn at 5:30 am (San Diego time). After we woke up and got around, we drove up the coast to Laguna Beach. This was the only time that MJ had a meltdown. She was just so tired from traveling and then getting up early, she cried for a little while and then fell fast asleep for the drive up the coast. Friday's weather: 72 and sunny!

MJ joining Daddy reading the paper in the morning!

Laguna Beach

It was so pretty here. There were a lot of tourists at the beach we had a picnic at. Matt said he could never live here because it cost a quarter to use the bathroom at a gas station and all the women there were over 6 foot :)

After eating dinner at the Mexican restaurant down the street, we took Madelynn to the park at our hotel and then out to the beach. Before we left, she would not play in the sand, I am pretty sure that she did not like the texture. Thankfully, the playground was surrounded by sand, so she quickly got over her fear!

Daddy and MJ swinging.

Mommy and MJ at the beach at our hotel. Her 1st time seeing the Pacific Ocean.

Daddy's turn...

This is just priceless!

On Saturday, we decided to go to the Zoo. Initially, we wanted to go to Sea World, since there are only a few in the United States and we had been to Columbus Zoo twice this summer. After looking at the prices for Sea World, we decided the zoo would be a better choice. I am so glad that we ended up at the Zoo. It is remarkable~ such an AWESOME zoo. Madelynn really liked it. Saturday's weather: 72 and sunny!

MJ getting ready to go into the zoo!

They just redesigned the Elephant Odyssey. It was so cool...There were about 6-7 elephants.

"Hey, giraffe..." This was my favorite. What an amazing photo!

Matt took lots of pictures of all the animals, but I just uploaded my favorites. When walking around this zoo, the animals were so close together and not really in "exhibits," but you would just walk around the corner and there would be camels. Also, I think the weather allowed the animals to be out and walking around, not like at the Columbus Zoo. When the summer months come, the animals at the Columbus Zoo are so hot, they don't move anywhere. I am really happy we went...

For dinner, we drove to a local pizza place. They served New York style and Chicago style pizza. This was one of our favorite dinners...It was so delicious!

MJ all carbed out after eating pizza! We all felt this way...

Matt and the Versa...he LOVED this car ;)

Daddy and MJ just walking around La Jolla before bed.

Mommy's turn...I don't know...Do we look alike? ;)

On Sunday, we ate at a restaurant called The Broken Yolk. Matt had researched good places to eat and he watches Man vs. Food. He watched an episode where he eats at this restaurant, so we ate at this restaurant. It was so good!! Sunday's weather: 72 and sunny!

Man vs. Food and Man won! Go Matt!!

After breakfast, we went to a festival in Hillcrest. It was nice to walk around and look at different vendors items. We both ended up getting sandals for $10 a piece...We should have bought more! Once we were done at the festival, we drove over to a playground at Balboa Park. Madelynn loves to play at parks! Finally, after MJ had taken her afternoon nap, we went to the pool at our hotel. We ate at Jeff's Burgers for dinner.

Hillcrest festival

MJ swinging at the playground in Balboa Park.

MJ swimming...She loved blowing bubbles in the baby pool.

It had been a long day for MJ (and Daddy, too)!

I stayed down on the beach to watch the sun set while Matt took Madelynn up to the room to get ready for bed.

On Monday, we spent the morning at La Jolla Cove. This was absolutely amazing~ breathtaking, really. I cannot believe that people live with this sight all the time. Matt kept telling me that we could move here, but I said no. We walked the path up the Cove and even were able to see the seals swimming in the ocean and sleeping on the rocks. It was so neat. The water was so clear that we could see them clearly. Monday's weather: 72 and sunny!

La Jolla Cove

Mommy and MJ at the Cove

Daddy's turn...

I have uploaded a video of the seals swimming in the ocean at the end of this. After MJ took her nap, we went swimming again and then ate at In -N- Out Burgers for dinner.

The Martin family...

On Tuesday morning, we went to the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Madelynn really loves to look at fish right now, so we thought this would be perfect to take her here. There were several aquariums filled with all kinds of fish, as well as a "petting" pond and an aquarium filled with sharks. She loved them all. Tuesday's weather: 72 and sunny!

One of the aquariums inside...

The "petting" pond was outside and we could see our hotel. It is the buildings with the red roofs.

MJ looking at the sharks. Very cool!

MJ outside at the "petting" ponds.

This is the outside of the Birch Aqaurium at Scripps.

The rest of Tuesday was spent napping and then swimming. We went to the beach and the pool to swim. She also ended up taking us over to the playground. It was a really relaxing afternoon. Tuesday night we went to Old Town San Diego for dinner and we ate at Cafe Coyote. This was one place we wish we would have spent more time, next time, we will go there and walk around.

Madelynn written in the sand with 2010.

Daddy chasing MJ. I cannot believe that she is only 18 months old and she has been to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...what a lucky girl!

Cafe Coyote...They sang for little Miss MJ!

Just relaxing, reading a book on the ride home...She LOVES to read books!

On Wednesday, we spent the whole day at the pool and the beach. We just wanted to relax the whole day since we would be traveling the whole next day. Matt decided to do our laundry while we were there, so it was one less thing to do when we got home. When I was folding it, I noticed black marks all over our clothes...I initially thought Matt left a pen in his pocket (because he has done that before), but realized the dryer burnt our clothes. The hotel ended up reinburses us because it ruined 26 pieces of our clothes! We decided to go to the Gas Lamp District for a nice dinner on our last night in San Diego. This is also a place we wished we could spend more time, next time, I guess. Wednesday's weather: 72 and sunny!

Daddy kissing his girl!

The Martin Family...8/11/2010

San Diego is such an amazing place...We will definitely be back to visit again soon!

Here is the video of the seals swimming.

Here is a video of MJ enjoying the pool!

Martin Family Vacation: San Diego

August 5-12, 2010

Our Summer Days...

With Matt and I both being teachers, we are lucky enough to be able to be home with Madelynn all summer. It really is nice for the most part. This summer, Matt was really busy with real estate and some days he was gone most of the day. During the summer, we forget the days of the week because we really had no place to be...every day was Saturday! It was great! Our summer days consisted of a lot of playing...

Matt finally bought MJ the Build-A-Bear Brutus. He has been talking about it for a long time and it is her favorite stuffed animal. Every morning, she points to it from her crib and carries it around all day!

We went to the Jazz and Rib Festival with our friends, Celeste and Jeremy, and their two girls, Corinne and Lydia. It was such a hot, humid day, but after we got our food, we found a really nice shaded spot to sit and listen to the music. It was a great time!

Lydia and MJ sharing some blueberries!

MJ and Corinne...hot and ready to go home!

We discovered this really neat place in Powell called the Splash Pad and it had a playground right next to it. Matt's mom and sister met us there with the boys. The day we were there a kids band was playing, too. So the kids had a great time playing in the water and the playground while listening to some music!

Our nephews, Bryce and Alec, playing on the playground!

Alec, Bryce and MJ posing for a quick photo!

At the end of the school year, I was trying to find some little friends that I could schedule play dates with for Madelynn. Throughout the entire summer, every Tuesday morning, MJ went to a play group with Celeste's little girls. Both MJ and I have made some really great friends. It is so nice to spend some time with other moms and let your kids play. It is so funny but everyone there has girls...MJ is in heaven with all the baby dolls!

Madelynn and Hannah playing in the little pool at a play date.

July '10

This year, marked the 3rd anniversary of my dad's death. I cannot believe how fast time flies. I thought it would get easier with each passing year, but it doesn't. It just makes me realize how much more I love my family and how lucky I am to have them all. We are all healthy and happy.

MJ having her 1st peanut butter and jelly sandwich...She LOVED it!

This summer, Madelynn and I spent a lot of time at New Albany's city pool. It was so kid friendly and it was a great spot for us to meet up with my friend Rachel and her son, Landon. Landon is about a year older than Madelynn but they still had fun together...or maybe it was just that the mommies had fun together :)

Landon and Madelynn playing in the fountains.

Madelynn would sit on the edge of the pool and "sneak" away because the ice cream machine was right behind her...That was always her favorite part!

I told you so...The girl loves ice cream!!

For Matt's birthday this year, I decided that I was going to plan something as a surprise for him. We started the day eating breakfast in Gahanna and then I told him to go play golf (since it was only his 2nd time out this summer). When he got home, I had got a babysitter and we left go eat dinner downtown. My friend, Brittany, recommended a restaurant called The Burgundy Room, which was great! After dinner, we were going to go to a Clippers baseball game. We had so much fun!! I am pretty sure he had a great birthday this year!

Matt and I celebrating his birthday...July '10

Clippers baseball game...We had great seats!

We also went to Touch-A-Truck in Westerville. At the Rec Center, they bring in any kind of truck you can think of and the kids are allowed to sit on them or honk the horn...It was really neat.

Madelynn driving a John Deere tractor, just like her Honnah!

Mommy and Madelynn by the helicopter. We were not going to wait in that big long line...

On Matt's actual birthday, we had my dad's 4th annual golf memorial outing. It was a great success. We raised over $4,000. It was really nice to see so many people there. It really means a lot to me and my family that so many people care about our family and raising money for his scholarship. Thanks to everyone who was able to donate their time and money!

Finally, we actually made it to the Ohio State Fair for the 1st time. We had a good time. We were able to see a lot of animals, get a bite to eat, and walk around.

Madelynn looking at the sheep.

She was a little unsure of the cows...I think they were too big for her!

MJ liked the pigs the best...

MJ enjoying her corn-on-the-cob.

The Martin family at the fair...

Now, I am just finishing up my grad school and getting ready for San Diego. I cannot believe that summer will be over in just a few short weeks...It has been a great summer. I think this summer made me realize how lucky I am to have such a great husband and daughter. We were able to spend such awesome time together this summer...and it doesn't get much better than that!